Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In my almost 6 years of breeding and keeping honduran milksnakes, I have never been bitten until now... I was doing my usual cleaning and when I tried to pick up a yearling, for some reason, it decided to bite me ( and yes, I always feed my snakes in a feeder box separate from its own terrarium ... so it's one of those weird unlucky incidents ).

Anyhow, I am fine... I just has a tiny little scratch on my thumb and I was able to squeeze out tiny very little amount of blood out of my thumb. My question is, anyone ever experience anything after the fact.... like being sick from salmonella? I disinfected my hand, poured alcohol and peroxide. Just wanting to know what preventive after effect I can do...

Thanks for your input!

Pic below is the culprit! LOL !

Ray

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RAY

I have never been bitten by an of my adult honduran and I dont think theres anything to worry about. I wish I had that snake bitting me

Jim Baptista

Nice of you to say that. I think you are right... I was more startled than anything else...plus the fact that she is one of my most calm snakes. She's still one of my favorites

Thanks again.
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RAY

Couldn't decide if you were physically bitten, or "bitten by the Honduran bug" at first, lol.

My tangerine albino female has started striking at me now when I am doing tank maintenance for some reason, I guess it's a yearling thing, seeing how far they can push you. Wait, scratch that, that's children that do that.

The only adult that has ever bitten me was a female cal king that missed the mouse I was offering (frozen thawed) and latched onto my thumb. I don't know who was surprised more, me or the snake.

I have found that not coming at a snake directly from the front seems to keep the more calm. Even if I get a nippy one, if you can gently nudge them from the rear they usually try to take off and run for cover, and at that point you can get them without an incident.

Sounds like you've been bitten in more ways than one when it comes to hondo's.

By the way, beauty of a snake, I too would take several bites from that one and still be happy.
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"Colubrid-aphilia", adj; An inordinate love of Colubrids.

Yup, sounds like you definitely nailed that down to the tee when you mentioned that "children will push". And funny when you mentioned who was more surprised... me or the snake? hehehe...

I usually grab the snake from behind as you mentioned ... but for some reason, because I thought I knew the personality of this particular snake to be calm in ANY circumstance... I guess I underestimated her.... no biggie... I still love her...especially more right after a shed.

Thanks again for your input !!!
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RAY

I have been bit by boas (4 ft) milks,kings and ratsnakes. as you can tell a great handler I am not and venemous snakes I would be insane to go near lol.
I never had a reaction other than maybe swelling for a few days. The boas bite since long teeth made my hand swell a bit.
I clean the wound with soap and water than pour rubbing alcohol on it for a few days.
Nothing ever came of it. Now I pay attention as to not get bit because it does hurt and bleed .
I have heard of water snakes and baby anoconda bites causing sickness but never milks,kings,etc.